Lou Piniella To Return To New York Yankees As TV Analyst
Couldn't Stay Away
Former New York Yankees outfielder and manager Lou Piniella is in negotiations to rejoin the organization as an analyst for the YES Network and as a spring training instructor, the New York Daily News reports. Piniella, 68, would work a limited number of games as an analyst.
Since retiring as Chicago Cubs manager in August of 2010 to care for his sick mother, Piniella has worked as a scout/special consultant for the San Francisco Giants.
Piniella spent 11 of his 18 season in the majors with the Yankees, hitting .295 with 57 homers and 417 RBIs in pinstripes. He had two stints as the team’s manager in the 1980s, compiling a 224-193 record in three seasons.
Danica Patrick Yahoo’s Most Searched Athlete In 2011
TALENT
Yahoo today released its Year In Review data for 2011, and there isn’t a single NFL or MLB player on its 10-deep list of “Top Searched Athletes.” Perhaps far more notable is that five of the top 10 are women, including the top spot, which went to the GoDaddy.com girl, Danica Patrick. Danica jumped all the way to No. 1 from No. 6 last year, when Manny Pacquiao topped the 2010 list.
Last year, the only NFL player to make the list was Brett Favre, at No. 4.
But the biggest surprise is that it appears web surfers have finally given up the hunt for new photos of Anna Kournikova. She was No. 3 in 2010, but didn’t make Yahoo’s list this year. Two others to drop off were skier Lindsey Vonn and soccer’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
- 1. Danica Patrick
- 2. Tiger Woods
- 3. Manny Pacquiao
- 4. Maria Sharapova
- 5. Serena Williams
- 6. Kris Humphries
- 7. Hope Solo
- 8. Kobe Bryant
- 9. Lamar Odom
- 10. Caroline Wozniacki
Yahoo also tracked which teams were searched for most often, and there MLB dominated, with five selections, including the No. 1 New York Yankees. The NFL had three teams, the NBA one and soccer checked in with one. The surprise there is that the Miami Heat didn’t make the list.
- 1. New York Yankees
- 2. Pittsburgh Steelers
- 3. Boston Red Sox
- 4. Green Bay Packers
- 5. Texas Rangers
- 6. St. Louis Cardinals
- 7. Detroit Tigers
- 8. Chicago Bears
- 9. Manchester United
- 10. Los Angeles Lakers
Joe Torre Says He Has No Desire To Manage Again
Done
Don’t expect to see Joe Torre in a dugout again, unless he just is visiting as part of his new job.
“Nobody’s made a call to me to ask me to manage,” Torre told MLB.com. “When I talk to people about other things, they want to know if I’m still interested. I’m really not.”
Torre, now the executive vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball, was honored Tuesday evening at the 17th annual Lou Gehrig Sports Awards Benefit.
Torre last managed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 and ranks fifth on the all-time wins list with 2,326. In his 29 years as a major league manager, he won four World Series (all with the New York Yankees). Torre also managed the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Dodgers.
“When I decided to not do it anymore, it was something I felt was in my best interest, and I felt if it’s in my best interest, then it has to help the team. Because you need somebody who has an enormous amount of energy and has the patience and the fortitude to go forward. It takes a lot out of you,” Torre told MLB.com. “When you do it for a number of years, and all of a sudden the expectations are sky-high, you’ve got to realize that the guy who’s doing it has a great deal of responsibility.”
Roger Clemens thinking of comeback in Puerto Rico?
Chin Music
Former major league pitcher Roger Clemens is contemplating a comeback in a Puerto Rican winter league, according to Puerto Rico’s El Nuevo Dia newspaper. Clemens, 49, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2007 with the New York Yankees but reportedly has aspirations of joining his son Koby on the Indios de Mayaguez team.
“(He) wants to pitch, that’s 100 percent sure. I saw his desire to compete again. He was (at) the practice and said he wanted to play with his son,” a member of the Indios de Mayaguez team told El Nueva Dia.
Clemens went 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts during his 24-season major league career. He was a seven-time Cy Young award winner, an 11-time All-Star and the 1986 AL MVP.
WTF: New York Post
Dont Mess With Their Yankees
Even in coverage of Moammar Gadhafi’s death the New York Post found time to fire shots at New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod’s postseason struggles is well documented but the Post that he should be forever linked with Gadhafi using the fact that the person who killed him was wearing a Yankees cap.
David Ortiz Says He’s Open To Play For New York Yankees
Johnny Damon Crossed
David Ortiz on Wednesday raised the possibility of jumping from the Boston Red Sox to the rival New York Yankees as a free agent this offseason. The Red Sox’s longtime designated hitter said that there is “too much drama in Boston” and that he has heard positive things about the Bronx Bombers.
“That’s something I gotta think about,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been here on the Red Sox a long time, and I’ve seen how everything goes down between these two ballclubs.”
Ortiz said that playing for the Yankees is “great from what I hear. Who doesn’t want to be involved in a great situation where everything goes the right way?” he added.
Ortiz was one of several Red Sox players taken to task by The Boston Globe in a story published Wednesday. The newspaper cited two instances in which Ortiz seemingly showed disrespect to former manager Terry Francona, who left the club shortly after the end of the regular season.
Ortiz, who will turn 36 on November 18, has been unsuccessful in obtaining a long-term contract from the Red Sox. With the Yankees lacking a regular DH, New York could become a useful bargaining chip. Based on his 2011 stats, Ortiz would represent an upgrade for the Bombers. He slugged 29 homers and drove in 96 runs while batting .309/.398/.554. Yankees DHs combined for 30 home runs, 85 RBIs and a .251/.336/.450 line.
Joaquin Benoit Forced To Remove Bandage
Gone Huntin
Last night the Detroit Tigers found themselves in position to beat the New York Yankees, the best team in the American League, to advance to the ALCS. However before they could so they called upon reliever Joaquin Benoit to shut down the Yankees in the seventh and eighth inning. Benoit coming out of the bullpen was ready to throw his first pitch but Yankees manager Joe Girardi thought the bandage on his face was to large and too much of a distraction and asked home plate umpire Ted Barrett to have him remove it.
Benoit abiding by baseballs rule book took it off and put the situation on his shoulders to use his arm to show the Yankees up by striking out three hitters and not allowing a run. After the Tigers 3-2 victory, TBS Inside MLB studio host David Wells appeared on the broadcast mocking the moment.
Distraction
MLB’s Rookie Hazing
It’s that time of year where the MLB has come to a close and team veterans make the 2011 rookies show up to the ballpark in outlandish costumes. Earlier this week we posted the Colorado Rockies dressing up as characters from Star Wars and now now have a few others to bring you. Thanks to the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays for participating. And shame on those teams that haven’t yet exposed their rookie costume hazing photos.
If your wondering who the one player is singled out is, that’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Mike Trout, who makes for one pretty nasty looking Lady Gaga.
Whoever decided that Astros second baseman Jose Altuve should be a jockey, that is just brilliant.
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
St. Louis Cardinals
Minnesota Twins
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays
Toronto Blue Jays
Lady Gaga aka Mike Trout
Washington Nationals
John Lackey Divorcing Cancer Stricken Wife, Lashes Out At Media
TALENT
The Boston Red Sox got a much needed win last night over the New York Yankees to help keep their playoff hopes alive but after the victory pitcher John Lackey was nearly brought to tears after being visibly upset because of a text message he says he received from a reporter before taking the field.
“Thirty minutes before the game,” Lackey told reporters, “I got a text message on my cell phone from one of you, somebody in the media, talking about personal stuff. I shouldn’t even have to be standing up here dealing with it. I’m sitting here, listening to music. I don’t know who got my phone number, but that’s over the line.”
It could have something to do with a TMZ report in which they say that Lackey is filing for divorce from his wife Krista, who has breast cancer.
“Sources close to the family tell TMZ … Krista underwent a double mastectomy back in March and underwent chemo as recently as June.”
Russell Martin Says He Hates The Boston Red Sox
Hate Is Such A Strong Word But I'm Cool With It
Now that the New York Yankees have clinched the American League East, catcher Russell Martin is not hiding his hatred for the Boston Red Sox. Martin in his first year with the Yankees, is hoping New York helps play wild-card spolier this weekend when it hosts the fading Red Sox in a three-game series.
“Anything to get the Red Sox out would be awesome for me,” Martin said. “They are fun to play against just because they have a quality team, and they’re gritty, and they play hard and stuff, but I’d love to see them lose. I hate the Red Sox.”
The Yankees are 4-11 against the Red Sox this season.
Alec Baldwin & John Krasinski Engage In Baseball Trash Talk Part Five
Actors Alec Baldwin and John Krasinski are back for another ad for New Era. I suspect we will see this commercial in heavy rotation as the Boston Red Sox travel to New York hoping to maintain possession of the wild-card spot in the American League.
Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player: Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Every Tuesday Sports Grind Entertainment presents you with the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player of the Week. This week the recipient of this prestigious honor goes to New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera for becoming Major League Baseball’s all-time career saves leader when he passed Trevor Hoffman. Rivera notched his 602 save of his career against the Minnesota Twins, helping his team preserve a 6-4 win. In typical Rivera fashion he sat down Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer and Chris Parmelee in order and even induced a customary broken bat. This season also marks the eighth time Rivera has achieved 40 saves in a season (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2011).
The Yankees are 633-41 all-time in games that Rivera has had a save chance, and he owns a remarkable 0.71 ERA in 139 2/3 innings of postseason work. No one has more postseason appearances (94),or more saves (42) than he has in the playoffs, the next reliever behind him is Brad Lidge with 18.
Congratulations Mariano Rivera you are this weeks Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Player.
Ted Williams To Be On Postage Stamp
Forever
Sluggers Ted Williams, Larry Doby, Willie Stargell and Joe DiMaggio will be honored as part of a set featuring baseball players the U.S. Postal Service announced. The U.S. Postal Service is releasing a series of “Major League Baseball All Stars” commemorative forever stamps that are to go on sale in July 2012.
Williams is the last baseball player to hit .400 for the season and owned a .344 average over his 19-year career for the Boston Red Sox. Stargell won a pair of World Series titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was voted to the All-Star game seven times as well as winning 1979 National League and World Series MVP awards.
DiMaggio is best known for his 56-game hit streak, but he helped the New York Yankees to nine World Series titles, earning three AL MVP awards along the way. Doby was the second black player to play in the majors and the first to play in the American League and appeared in seven All-Star games as well as helping the 1948 Cleveland Indians capture their last World Series title.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the Oakland Athletics who gave up a Major League Baseball first in three grand slams in one game. Only twice in history had two teams combined to hit three grand slams in one game. The New York Yankees equaled that by themselves last Thursday. Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson were the big hitters in helping the Yankees beat the Athletics 22-9. The last time a game included three grand slams was in 1987 when the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 22-7 at Wrigley Field. In 1986, the Baltimore Orioles hit two against the Texas Rangers but lost 13-11.
Minka Kelly & Derek Jeter Break Up
TALENT
After dating for three years Hollywood actress Minka Kelly and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter have broken up with confirmation coming from her representatives.
“They care about each other and it was amicable,” says a source. “They’re still friends.”
Kelly, 31, the star of the upcoming Charlie’s Angels on ABC, was often seen at Yankees games cheering for Jeter, 37, and was in the stadium when he got his 3,000th hit in July. The very private couple repeatedly dodged engagement rumors as early as January and were reluctant to talk about their relationship.
Alex Rodriguez Spotted Played Poker Again
Swinger
The New York Post says New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was spotted last week in a high-stakes gaming room at a Connecticut casino. According to the Post Rodriguez was at the Mohegan Sun casino while waiting to play a minor league rehab game with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The Post also says the Yankees star declined to talk with fans that attempted to chat him up. He says he only went to the casino to have dinner
Rodriguez alleged gambling is already under scrutiny from MLB after a story tabloid papers The Star published. The accuracy of that piece has been challenged.
Toronto Blue Jays Fans Have Fun With Sign Stealing
Recently ESPN published a report accusing the Toronto Blue Jays had planted a man in a white shirt in right center field to steal pitching signs and relay them to their hitters. The fans of the 61 and 59 Blue Jays have embraced the ESPN report by showing up to the Rogers Centre will signs mocking the situation. As there is no telling as to why New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi choose to go on record with this nonsense about a team that sits fourth in the American League East, it certainly has lit a fuse under the Blue Jay faithful.
WTF: A.J. Burnett
Froggy
New York Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett looking for a change in his disastrous season decided to cut his hair short and add dyed platinum blond tips. The result? Another lost after giving up four earned runs in six inning of work.
Toronto Blue Jays Accused Of Using Third Party To Steal Signs
Go Back To This Logo
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi accused the Toronto Blue Jays of stealing signs last month, but that involved players on the field. An investigation by ESPN might have uncovered something even more dubious.
During a game late in the 2010 season, relievers sitting in the opposing team’s bullpen noticed what they believe was a man in the outfield relaying signs to Blue Jays batters. His arm motions, they believe, would indicate what pitch was coming. Four relievers from that team maintain that the man somehow was getting the signs from the catcher and perhaps from another person in the stadium then relaying to the hitter. From where the man sat in the center field seats, he was in direct view of the batters, meaning they wouldn’t even have to turn their heads to pick up his signals. At that point, the opposing team began to switch up its signs. And the man left his seat in center field in the next inning.
“It’s premeditated,” one of the relievers told ESPN, “as if the guy was a sniper trying to find the best position to make a shot.”
ESPN notes that word apparently spread through the majors because this season the Yankees and Boston Red Sox have used multiple signs even with no one on base. That would seem to imply that the teams were concerned about someone other than baserunners stealing signs.
“That never happened, will never happen, not even a possibility,” Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “If it did happen, we’d be winning a lot more games at home…I think it’s a nonstory because no one ever has picked up the phone and called me about it. It’s never been an issue, and I would expect them to do so if it was.”
Indeed, an MLB spokesman told ESPN, “Major League Baseball has never received a complaint from any club about sign stealing in Toronto, and this is first (we’ve been) made aware of it.”
Alec Baldwin & John Krasinski Engage In Baseball Trash Talk Part Vier
Actors Alec Baldwin and John Krasinski are back for another ad for New Era. I suspect we will see this commercial in heavy rotation as the New York Yankees travel to Boston for first place on the line starting today.
Your right John, it is going to be on the internet, starting with this site.
MLB Probes Report Of Alex Rodriguez Poker Player
Swinger
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, currently rehabbing in Miami after knee surgery July 11, could face suspension if reports are true that he took part in illegal, underground poker games in California. Allegations that Major League Baseball is taking very seriously.
“We’re talking to people involved in the investigation, and we’re taking this very seriously. Because he had been warned about this before, I would say a possible suspension would be very much in play.”
MLB said investigators with the commissioner’s office will interview Rodriguez and he is expected to offer full corporation. The allegations, first published by RadarOnline.com, are that Rodriguez played in at least two of the games, one of which took place at the Beverly Hills mansion of a record executive at which a fight nearly broke out when one of the poker players refused to pay up after losing “more than a half-million dollars.”
According to the story, details of which were provided by another player at the games that Rodriguez “tried to distance himself from the game” when things threatened to turn violent.
According to the New York Post, actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Tobey Maguire also were involved in the underground poker games.
In 2005, Rodriguez had been warned about gambling in underground poker clubs by the Yankees and by baseball commissioner Bud Selig, both of whom were concerned that possible involvement with gamblers who might be betting on baseball games could result in a Pete Rose-type lifetime ban from the game. At the time, Rodriguez admitted that his participation “wasn’t the right thing to do.”
Matthew Bellamy Attacked & Sent To The Hospital
This Guy Do Something To Piss Someone Off?
A year ago to the day we posted the story of Matthew Bellamy getting kicked out of Progressive Field in a game the pitted the New York Yankees against the Cleveland Indians for causing a major distraction when he wore a LeBron James Miami Heat jersey. Now Bellamy is in serious condition in a Toledo hospital, after he was attacked after leaving a bar after beating attacked by Robert Horton.
According to the Sandusky Register, witnesses said that Horton struck Bellamy three times, and that Bellamy did not fight back upon being hit. Bellamy and a group of friends left the bar in Toledo and stopped at a house to drop something off. After arriving at the house, a car pulled up behind them, and Horton got out, yelled something at the group, and then went straight for Bellamy.
Hideki Irabu Found Dead Of Apparent Suicide
R.I.P.
Former New York Yankees, Montreal Expos,and Texas Rangers pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead at his home in California of apparent suicide. Irabu was 42 and was reportedly found hanging himself. Irabu lived in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
The Yankees originally acquired Irabu from San Diego Padres in April of 1997 after they purchased his contract from the Chiba Lotte Mariners. Irabu said he would only play for New York, forcing the trade that involved Ruben Rivera, Homer Bush, Rafael Medina, and $3 million that went to the Padres.
Irabu pitched for the Yankees from 1997-1999, posting a 4.80 ERA in 64 starts and ten relief appearances. His best season was 1998, when he pitched to a 4.08 ERA in 173 IP. The Yankees traded Irabu to the Expos for Ted Lilly, Jake Westbrook, and Christian Parker before the 2000 season. He is perhaps most remembered for being called a “fat pussy toad” by George Steinbrenner after failing to cover first base in Spring Training one year.
After two seasons in Montreal and one as the Rangers closer, Irabu was out of Major League Baseball at age 33. He then returned to Japan and pitched another year with the Hanshin Tigers, and made a comeback with the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League in 2009.
Irabu ran into some trouble with the law after retirement, getting arrested for assaulting a bar manager in 2008 and for DUI in 2010.
He finished his career after six years with a 34-35 record and 5.15 ERA.
Derek Jeter Baseball Goes On Auction Block
Who Pays For Second Place
A foul ball that New York Yankee superstar Derek Jeter fouled off just before he hit his 3,000th hit for a home run is headed to the auction block. The fan who caught it has consigned it to MEARS Online Auctions and the bidding begins this weekend.
The home run ball caught by fan Christian Lopez and given to Jeter, was judged to be worth up to $250,000 if it went on the market.
